Liquor Licensing - Host Reponsibility Policy Guidelines


This page provides guidelines to enable you to prepare your Host Responsibility Policy.

Guidance and information to assist your policy preparation

All On- and Club Licence premises within the Porirua City District Licensing Agency district are required to have a current operative Host Responsibility Policy in force to provide a safe and secure environment for customers and staff.

This guideline is provided to enable the preparation of your Host Responsibility Policy. The policy should be specific to your premises and reflect the kind of atmosphere you would like to create. It must also address both the licence conditions and the licence holder's responsibilities as set out in the Sale of Liquor Act 1989.

Involve all key persons i.e., management and staff in the policy development and implementation.

While a full up to date copy of the policy must be available on the premises for Police, Regional Public Health Office, District Licensing Agency and staff information, simplified versions may be displayed throughout the premises. See sample reduced version below.

Link to relevant legislation:

The policy should clearly address the following:

1. Staff training

  • What training is given to staff including management to ensure they are fully aware of their duties and responsibilities under the:
    • Sale of Liquor Act 1989;
    • The Sale of Liquor Regulations 1990;
    • The Sale of Liquor (Evidence of Age Document) Notice 1999;
    • The Smoke Free Environments Act 1990;
    • The Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 - (For handling safety)?
  • Who provides this training, how is it carried out and when and where does it occur?
  • Are staff members aware of the management line of authority?
  • What delegations/authorities have been given to staff authorising them to act for and on your behalf in carrying out their duties? And in particular to:
    • Refuse service to minors, intoxicated, disorderly and other prohibited persons.
    • Require those persons to leave the premises.
    • Initiate the issue of trespass notices under the Trespass Act 1980 as required.
    • Seek Police assistance to deal with incidents where this is required.
  • How will you assess the effectiveness of that training and remedy any deficiencies disclosed?

2. Licence details

Identify the type of liquor licence under which your premises are being or will be operated. Include:

  • The authorised trading days and hours.
  • A clear description of the designation or designations (if any) specified in the licence for the premises (include a floor plan marking the designation area/s).
  • An explanation of who may be permitted on the premises generally during trading hours and/or in the designated areas and under what circumstances that may occur.

3. Minors

  • What training and instructions has or will be given to staff to ensure they can identify and proactively deal with minors (underage drinkers)?
  • What strategies do you have or will have in place to deal with minors?
  • What instructions has staff received regarding the vetting of potential minors entering the premises and the forms of identification and evidence of age staff may require them to produce to prove their identification and/or age?
  • Do you have permanent non-service of minors signage displayed at each point of service and entrances to the premises?

Links to relevant legislation:

4. Intoxication

  • What training and instructions has or will be given to staff to identify and proactively deal with intoxicated and potentially intoxicated persons on the premises before their condition escalates?
  • What strategies do you have or will have in place to deal with intoxicated or potentially intoxicated persons i.e. will they be offered free soft drinks, tea, coffee, food or safe travel home?
  • Do you have permanent non-service of intoxicated persons signage displayed at each point of service and entrances?

Links to relevant legislation:

5. Food

A condition of every On-Licence is that food must be available, and promoted both by staff and by clear well positioned signs at all times when the premises are open for the sale of liquor.

  • What food options do you have or will you have available on your premises?
  • Do you have permanent well-positioned signage clearly promoting this food? What type of signage is used?
  • Detail the processes by which you will ensure staff members are aware of the requirement for food to be available at all times, the menu or food options that must be available and that they are actively promoting the food to patrons.

Notes:

  • The range and style of food available on all premises must be similar in style and nature to the food described on the menu accompanying the licence application,
  • For hotels or taverns that do not operate a restaurant a range of substantial snack foods i.e., pies, pizzas, sandwiches, filled rolls and other pre-prepared packaged food that may be heated prior to service is the minimum requirement. This does not include soups, chocolate, snack bars peanuts or potato chips.
  • The food must comprise no less than four separate food type options at off peak times.
  • It must be conveniently available on the premises, it must be realistically priced, it must be able to be supplied within a reasonable time frame and it must be able to be consumed on the premises.
  • If food is not available on your premises you cannot sell liquor.
  • On-Licence restaurants must have a chef on duty, the kitchen must be operating and there must be a full range of food available per the menu at times liquor is available for sale.

6. Non-Alcoholic Beverages

On- and Club Licence conditions requires a reasonable range of non-alcoholic beverages to be available on the premises at all times when those premises are operating under the licence.

  • What non-alcoholic beverages do you offer or will you offer for patrons?
  • Do you provide "free water" at all times if requested by patrons?
  • How do you advise patrons of the availability of the "free water"?
  • How do you promote the non-alcoholic alternative beverages i.e., by signage, in the beverage menu or both?

7. Low Alcohol Beverages

On- and Club Licence conditions requires a reasonable range of low alcohol beverages to be available on the premises at all times when those premises are operating under the licence.

  • Describe the low alcohol beverages you offer or will offer for patrons.
  • Are the low alcohol beverages available at every bar or point of service?
  • How are the low alcohol alternative beverages promoted i.e., by clear signage, as a feature in the beverage menu, by staff advising patrons or all three?

8. Safe Transport Options

On- and Club Licence conditions requires the licence holder (licencee) to provide assistance with and/or information about alternative forms of transport from the licensed premises available for both staff and patrons.

  • What strategies you have in place or will have in place to ensure both staff and patrons get home safely from your premises? Do you:
    • Promote hire a driver scheme.
    • Provide a dedicated telephone for patrons to arrange safe transport i.e., taxi, family or friend.
    • Operate a courtesy van.
    • Operate a designated driver scheme.
  • What strategies do you have or will you have in place to cater for designated drivers? i.e., free or reduced price non-alcoholic beverages, food etc.
  • How do you promote these alternative forms of transport to the patrons?
  • How do you ensure or will you ensure that staff are aware of those strategies and that they actively promote them?

9. Liquor Promotions

Under Section 154A of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 it is an offence for a licencee or manager to do anything in the promotion of the business conducted on the premises, or in the promotion of any event or activity held or conducted on the premises that is intended or likely to encourage persons on the premises to consume alcohol to an excessive extent.

A protocol on this follows below. This has been collated by the Hospitality Association, the Police, Alcohol Liquor Advisory Council (ALAC) and lists the acceptable and unacceptable practices.

  • What commitment do you give to complying with the protocol and Section 152A?
  • What action are you taking or will you take as Licencee to ensure your staff comply with both the protocol and your commitment?
  • Link to relevant legislation:

UNACCEPTABLE PRACTICES ACCEPTABLE PRACTICES
1. Promotions which offer alcohol in nonstandard measures and/or by virtue of their descriptive titles, such as "laybacks" - "shooters" - "slammers" - "test tubes" - "blasters", and their method of consumption, encourages irresponsible drinking habits and are likely to result in rapid intoxication. 1. The traditional "happy hour" during or immediately following normal daytime working hours.
2. Promotions or drink cards, which provide a multiple of free drinks, extreme discounts of limited duration on a given day or night and which have the capacity to be readily stockpiled by patrons or transferred to other patrons. In other words the promotion or drink card must not, by design or potential create an incentive for patrons to consume liquor more rapidly than they otherwise might. 2. A complimentary standard drink upon arrival.
3. Any labeling or titling of promotions that may encourage patrons to consume liquor irresponsibly and excessively. 3. Promotions involving low alcohol beer where it is clear from the advertising and promotional material that it is a low alcohol beer promotion.
4. The refusal to serve single measures of spirits on request or provide reasonably priced non-alcoholic drinks. 4. The advertising of a consistent price of a particular type of brand of liquor across the entire trading hours or a premises on a given day or night, providing the price is not so low that it will, in itself, encourage the excessive consumption of alcohol and intoxication.
5. Any promotion that encourages a patron to consume liquor excessively - "all you can drink offers" - "free drinks for women" - "two for one" - and to consume it in an unreasonable time period. 5. Promotion of particular brands of liquor that provide incentives to purchase that brand by virtue of a consistent discounted price, offer of a prize etc., but does not provide any particular incentive to consume that product more rapidly than a patron's normal drinking habit.
6. Any promotion that comprises patron safety or puts them at risk of harm. 6. Competitions with prizes of food, meal deals or other prizes consistent with Host Responsibility.
7. Ask yourself - Will the promotion make people drink faster or more than they normally would. If the answer is yes, reconsider the promotion. 7. Promotions involving food, meal and drink combos and other offers that reflect Host Responsibility.

SAMPLE HOST RESPONSIBILITY POLICY

1. MINORS

  • All staff are conversant with the requirements of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989, which prohibits the sale of alcohol to minor (persons under the age of 18 years).
  • Signage is displayed on the premises stating minors will not be served.
  • Staff may require any person appearing to be under the age of 25 years to produce proof of identification.
  • The accepted forms of identification are photo driver's licence, passport, 18 plus card. They will be requested where any doubt as to age exists.
  • Where proof of age cannot be produced and doubt exists as to age the person concerned will be required to leave the premises.

2. INTOXICATION

  • All staff are aware that the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 prohibits the sale of alcohol to intoxicated persons and the presence of intoxicated persons on licensed premises.
  • Signage is displayed on the premises stating intoxicated persons will not be served.
  • Staff have been trained in how to recognise the signs of intoxication.
  • Any person displaying signs of intoxication will not be served further alcohol and may be asked to leave.
  • Alternative drinks i.e., low and non-alcoholic beverages and food will be recommended when a person shows signs of escalating intoxication.

3. FOOD

  • Signage is displayed advising the range and nature of food available
  • Staff will actively promote and encourage the consumption of food to slow the onset of intoxication.

4. NON-ALCOHOLIC AND LOW-ALCOHOL BEVERAGES

  • A range of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages is available at the bar point of service. Tap water is provided free of charge.

5. SAFE TRANSPORT OPTIONS

  • A telephone is available should you wish to call a taxi, dial a driver or other private transport home.
  • The telephone numbers for local taxi services are displayed with the telephone.
  • Management supports the designated driver scheme by providing reduced price non-alcoholic beverages and food.

6. LIQUOR PROMOTIONS

  • No promotions encouraging the rapid consumption of alcohol or an excessive volume of alcohol will be either initiated or conducted on these premises.

As good hosts our expectation is that you will enjoy your visit to our premises. You are requested to act in a responsible manner whilst on the premises and not disrupt or cause offence to other patrons and staff.

Refusal of service should be viewed as an indication we are concerned for your welfare. It is pointed out that staff must comply with their legal obligations under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989.

Thank you for support and patronage.

Links to more information

Porirua City Council links: